Registration Requirements

Under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), Section 264(2) all nonimmigrants and US permanent residents are required to:

  • Carry their immigration registration document - Nonimmigrants and lawful permanent residents 18 years of age and older must carry their "evidence of registration" document at all times. Usually, this is Form I-94 or an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) card for nonimmigrants or Form I-551 (green card) for lawful permanent residents.
  • Report address changes within 10 days - All noncitizens living in the United States must report any change of address within 10 days of the address change. The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) website has How to Change Your Address.

Identification (ID) Requirements:

In addition to a government-issued photo ID (valid passport, REAL ID or state issued ID) you must obtain your current form I-94 every time you travel overseas and are re-admitted to the U.S. by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (USCBP). You can obtain your Form I-94 using the USCBP I-94 Website. Make sure you verify the information contained in your most recent I-94 form.

  • F1 students: Form I-20 (signed)
  • J1 Exchange Visitors: Form DS-2019 (signed)
  • H1B and O-1 Professionals: Form I-797
  • TN and E-3 Professionals: Form I-797
  • F-1 on Optional Practical Training (OPT) / Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) OPT: EAD card
  • J-1 Student on Academic Training (AT): Letter of AT authorization from Authorized Representative (A/RO)

Alien Registration Program

Most nonimmigrants (for example, F-1, J-1, H-1B, O-1, etc. as well as their dependents) who were aged 14 or over when they entered the United States were likely already registered with the U.S. government when they first arrived. When you receive a visa, are inspected at a U.S. port of entry, and receive a Form I-94 (either on paper or electronically), this automatically counts as your registration, and you will not have to re-register under this new DHS program. You will generally not need to re-register if:

  • You entered the U.S. at age 14 or older; and
  • You received an I-94 form when you entered

How To Know If You Are Already Registered

The USCIS Alien Registration Requirement page contains a subsection that gives details on How to Determine If you are Already Registered.


New Registration Requirements for Nonimmigrants Who Turn 14 in the U.S.

New USCIS guidance posted on February 25, 2025, will require young nonimmigrants who turn 14 while in the U.S. to "re-register" with USCIS within 30 days of their birthday, even if previously registered when entering the country. This may affect, for example, F-2, J-2, H-4 dependents and young F-1/J-1 students who entered before age 14.

How to complete the re-registration

See the USCIS Alien Registration Requirement page for instructions on filing Form G-235R. Form G-325R must be filed online through a USCIS online account. It cannot be filed by mail or in person.


Plan, Organize and Take Precautions

Make sure that all your immigration related documents mentioned above you carry are valid (not expired), and easily available to you. Make copies that you, a family member or trusted contact can also have access to in the case of an emergency. Keep a family member or a trusted contact (ideally a U.S. citizen) aware of your location and devise a check-in system so that they are aware of your daily location. Develop a plan in case you are not able to respond to your planned check ins. The UMass Lowell International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO) AND  the office of Human Resources (HR) can provide a list of resources and immigration attorneys if need be. You can also search for immigration attorneys on the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) website.